Electrical connector

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector, for example a connector that will operate with the Universal Serial Bus, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the connector includes none, one, or several tongue board, tongue tip, electrical contact, housing shell, insulating strip on the inner lining of housing shell, protective edge. A connector integral to a printed circuit board is also disclosed. Other embodiments are disclosed.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/490,413, filed on Jul. 28, 2003, entitled Electrical Connector, whichapplication is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and moreparticularly to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector.

BACKGROUND

In many situations, computers are connected to peripherals or electronicappliances using wire connections. One type of wire connection is theUniversal Serial Bus (hereafter USB) cable. A USB cable may be used toelectrically connect a computer with peripherals and other electronicappliances. Examples of computer peripherals are input devices such as amouse and a keyboard, output devices such as printers, and input/outputdevices such as external hard drives and flash memory drives. Examplesof electronic appliances are digital cameras, PDAs, and MP3 players.

In the late 1990's the USB standard became the preferred connectioninterface in the computer industry and has become ubiquitous in almostall computers manufactured today. Laptop computers, desktop computers,and other computing machines are manufactured with USB ports in order totake advantage of the variety of peripheral devices and electronicappliances that are built around USB architecture. (See www.USB.org)

The Universal Serial Bus and USB connectors are well known in the art.The pervasiveness of the USB standard and USB connectors has increasedutility to consumers, substantially increased data transfer rates overother interface methods and reduced costs for manufacturers ofperipheral devices due to standardization. Computer vendors typicallyincorporate one or more USB ports into their suite of Input Outputports.

A USB cable used to connect peripherals or electronic appliances to acomputer is comprised of 2 endpoints known as connectors or plugs. Oneconnector, known as Series “A” plug, is attached to the host computerand the other, known as Series “B” plug, is attached to the connectingappliance. Series “A” and Series “B” plugs are of different shape andsize so as not to confuse between them. The interface connection on thehost computer is called USB mount port (hereafter USB port). The USBport is comprised of a Series “A” receptacle that mates with a Series“A” plug. Electrically, Series “A” receptacles function as outputs fromhost systems. FIG. 1 shows a prior art Series “A” plug 10, which mateswith a Series “A” receptacle 12. The Series “A” plug always is orientedtowards the host system. Photographs of the plug and connector are shownin the Provisional Application No. 60/490,413, filed Jul. 28. 2003,entitled “Electrical Connector” (hereinafter “the provisionalapplication”) which is incorporated herein by reference.

The computer host USB port is an open receptacle with a flat, internalrectangular card bearing electrical contact points. The cable series “A”plug connecting to the host receptacle terminates in a rectangularsleeve that is inserted into the host receptacle. The sleeve contains atongue board bearing matching electrical contact points to those of thehost receptacle. The insertion of sleeve to the receptacle affixes thecard and tongue thus creating a mated electrical connection.

Some peripheral devices do not employ a USB cable to connect to acomputer but rather utilize a USB connector as part of their assembly.Examples are keychain storage devices (see www.diskonkey.com,www.thumbdrive.com) or security keys (see www.ealaddin.com). Theprovisional application shows an example of a USB drive plugged into ahost PC USB port. Keychain storage devices, due to their smalldimensions, serve as portable storage media, and as such are often usedwith several computers. Therefore, these devices are plugged in and outof host computers many times.

There is unfortunately a shortcoming in the physical design of the USBconnector, which manifests itself when a attempting to insert a USBconnector into a USB port. Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seenthat while seeming symmetric to touch and sight externally, both thereceptacle 12 and the plug 10 are asymmetric internally. In the hostreceptacle, this is due to the positioning of the rectangular card 101and electrical connectors 102 inside the receptacle. FIGS. 2 a-2 c showan example of a USB host receptacle 100. FIG. 2 depicts three views of aUSB receptacle of the prior art. In particular, FIG. 2 a shows a frontsection, FIG. 2 b shows a side view section, and FIG. 2 c shows a bottomside view section. Referring to these figures, a rectangular card 101 islocated within the receptacle 100. Electric contact points 102 areformed on the card 101.

FIGS. 3 a-3 c depict an example of a Series “A” USB plug of the priorart. In particular, FIG. 3 a depicts a top view section, FIG. 3 bdepicts a front view section, and FIG. 3 c depicts a side view section.The prior art plug connector includes a shell 200. A tongue board 201 islocated within the shell and electric contact poin7ts 202 are formed onthe tongue board. Similarly, inside the USB connector shell 200, thetongue 201 and electrical contacts 202 are positioned in a non-symmetricmanner.

In many cases, the host USB port is located at an angle in which userscan't comfortably see the inside of the receptacle, and it is unclear tothe user how to align the plug for proper insertion and electricalmating. FIGS. 4 and 5 depict mating a USB plug and a USB receptacle ofthe prior art. The rectangular sleeve of a USB plug fits correctly intothe rectangular receptacle 100 of the USB port only when the internalrectangular card 101 of the receptacle and the internal tongue board 201of the USB plug are correctly facing each other as shown in FIG. 4. FIG.5 illustrates the case when the plug is correctly inserted into thereceptacle. When this is not the case, an electric mating is notpossible as the internal rectangular card 101 of the receptacle and theinternal tongue board 201 of the USB connector collide as shown in FIGS.6 a and 6 b, also prior art. FIG. 6 a shows a view similar to that ofFIG. 5 except that the receptacle 100 and shell 200 are not properlyaligned. FIG. 6 b shows the collision 205 that results from thismisalignment.

In some cases, users may not see the internal alignment in the host USBreceptacle because it is positioned in the back or on the side of thecomputer. Statistically, since there are seemingly two alignmentpossibilities when connecting the rectangular plug to the rectangularreceptacle, but only one correct alignment, there is a 50% chance offailed insertion attempts. The result is a degradation of the userexperience in working with USB devices. As more devices connect tocomputers using USB connectors, this problem intensifies. For keychainstorage devices that are plugged many times in and out of manycomputers, this inconvenience intensifies.

There is clearly an unmet need for a plug mechanism that is operablewith the USB that allows correct insertion of the plug into a USB portwithout necessitating user consideration of plug alignment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a solution to the problemstated above and describes improvements of the USB plug. In oneexemplary embodiment (hereafter SLIM embodiment), the connector tongueboard is not housed in a shell. The tongue board, which has two sets ofcontact points, one on each side of the tongue board, may be correctlyinserted into host receptacle in two alignments. Since the contactpoints are present on both sides of the tongue board, any alignment willprovide proper electrical mating.

In another exemplary embodiment of the invention (hereafter FLEXembodiment), the solution is achieved by using a flexible tongue boardthat can position itself according to the computer receptacle'srectangular card position, thus achieving electrical mating in everyinsertion. Here too, exist two sets of contact points, one on each sideof the flexible tongue board.

In order to reduce manufacturing and assembly costs, yet anotherexemplary embodiment is presented in which the novel connector which isoperable with the USB receptacle is part of the Printed Circuit Board(PCB) of the peripheral device.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of embodiments of the present invention in order that thedetailed description of the invention that follows may be betterunderstood. Additional features and advantages of embodiments of theinvention will be described hereinafter, which form the subject of theclaims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may bereadily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structuresor processes for carrying out the same purposes of the presentinvention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art thatsuch equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims and that suchequivalent constructions fall within the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a series “A” USB plug on a USB cable and a series “A” USBreceptacle of the prior art;

FIGS. 2 a-2 c depict various views of a prior art USB receptacle;

FIGS. 3 a-3 c depict various views of a prior art USB plug;

FIG. 4 depicts the proper alignment of a prior art USB plug insertedinto a host USB receptacle;

FIG. 5 depicts the combination of a properly inserted USB plug and a USBreceptacle of the prior art mated in correct alignment;

FIGS. 6 a-6 b illustrate an improper attempt to insert a USB plug of theprior art into a host USB receptacle;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary SLIM embodiment of thepresent invention, in 4 views 7 a-7 d;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary SLIM embodiment of thepresent invention in a side view, including the layout of the electricalcontact points of present embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 9 a-b illustrate the insertion of an exemplary SLIM embodiment ofthe present invention into a host USB port;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary FLEX embodiment of thepresent invention, in 3 views 10 a-10 c;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary FLEX embodiment of thepresent invention in a side view, including layout of the electricalcontact points of the present embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 12 a-c illustrate the insertion of an exemplary FLEX embodiment ofthe present invention into a host USB port;

FIGS. 13 a-c are another illustration of the insertion of a FLEXembodiment of the present invention into a host USB port; and

FIGS. 14 a-b are schematic diagrams of another embodiment of the presentinvention, in which the USB connector of the invention is an integralpart of the peripheral device PCB.

Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generallyrefer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated. The figures aredrawn to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the preferredembodiments and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The making and using of the presently preferred embodiments arediscussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that thepresent invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that canbe embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to makeand use the invention, and do not limit the scope of the invention.

In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of theinvention, reference is made to the drawings that illustrate specificexemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments may beutilized without departing from the spirit of the present invention;therefore the following detailed description of the invention should notbe taken in a limiting sense.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is an improvement ofexisting USB series “A” plugs. This improvement is achieved by providingelectrical contact points on both sides of connector tongue board, thusfacilitating the insertion of the improved plug connector for devicesoperable with the USB into USB host computers.

FIG. 7, which includes the top view of FIG. 7 a, the front view of FIG.7 b, the bottom view of FIG. 7 c, and the top side view of FIG. 7 d,depicts electrical plug 30 in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention (SLIM embodiment). The plug 30 includes a tongue 301,a plurality of contacts 302 on both sides of tongue 301, and protectiveedges 303. The tongue 301 may be the endpoint of a USB cable, or anintegral part of a peripheral device, such as a keychain storage device.

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b depict an attempt to connect plug 30 to a USBreceptacle 100. The physical structure of plug 30 is symmetric on thelateral axis. When the tongue 301 encounters USB receptacle 100, tongue301 takes up the free space available in receptacle 100, and creates anelectric connection.

Electric contacts 302 are present on both sides of tongue 301. Thisensures that insertion of tongue 301 into receptacle 100 in either oftwo possible alignments will produce proper electrical mating. In orderto assure that each of electrical contact points 302 are mated with thecorrect electrical contact points 102 in USB port 1, regardless oforiginal alignment of tongue 301, the electrical contact points on eachside of tongue 301 are oppositely aligned, as shown in FIG. 8.

In FIG. 8, the electric contact points 302 are each labeled with anumber 1, 2, 3, or 4. In the preferred embodiment, the contact pointscarry electrical signals as defined by Table 1.

TABLE 1 Contact Point Signal Line 1 GND 2 Signal A 3 Signal B 4 VCC

In some instances, USB receptacle 100 may serve as common electricalground. In order to avoid short-circuiting the electrical contact points302 on the opposite side of tongue 301 that are not participating in theelectrical mating, protective edges 303 are used. The protective edges303 protrude from tongue 301 a little more than the electrical contacts302 do, and thus prevent physical connection to housing 100 that mightotherwise cause a short circuit.

FIGS. 10 a (top view), 10 b (front view), and 10 c (side view) show anelectrical plug 40 in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention (FLEX embodiment). The plug 40 includes a shell 400, aflexible tongue 401, a tongue tip 402, a plurality of contacts 403 onboth sides of flexible tongue 401, and insulating strips 404. Theflexible tongue 401 is positioned inside shell 400, in the center of thelateral axis of shell 400.

FIGS. 12 a-12 c depict an attempt to connect plug 40 to a USB receptacle100. FIG. 12 a shows the plug 40 before mating. FIG. 12 b showsalignment of the flexible tongue 401 upon encountering the rectangularcard 101. FIG. 12 c shows the plug after it has been mated. FIGS. 13a-13 c are similar views illustrating the same operation, except thatthe tongue 401 flexes in the opposite direction. The structure of plug40 is symmetric on the lateral axis, as the tongue board is located inthe middle of the shell 400. When the shell 400 encounters receptacle100, tongue tip 402 faces rectangular card 101 and helps to divertflexible tongue 401 and avoid a collision of rectangular card 101 andflexible tongue 401. As insertion of shell 400 into receptacle 100continues, flexible tongue 401 takes up the free space available inreceptacle 100, and creates an electric connection.

Electrical contacts 403 are present on both sides of flexible tongue 301in order to assure not only insertion of plug 40 into USB receptacle 100but proper electrical mating whether flexible tongue has to move down asshown in FIG. 12 or up as shown in FIG. 13.

In some USB connectors, shell 400 may serve as common electrical ground.In order to avoid short-circuiting the electrical contact points 403 notparticipating in the electrical mating, insulation strips 404 are linedinside shell 400.

In order to ensure that each electrical contact point 402 is mated withthe correct electrical contact point 102 in USB port 1, regardless oforiginal alignment of flexible tongue 401, the electrical contact pointson each side of flexible tongue 301 are oppositely aligned, as shown inFIG. 11. The signals/supply voltages corresponding to the contact pointsare shown in Table 1.

FIGS. 14 a and 14 b show an example of a SLIM embodiment in which thepresent invention is used to connect a peripheral device 50 to a USBhost computer (not shown) without the use of a cable. The electricalplug 30 is an integral part of the printed circuit board (PCB) 500.Internal electronics 501 are connected to top electric contact points302 by using internal electronic contacts 502. In the top view of FIG.14 a, top internal electric contacts 502 are directly connected to topelectric contact points 302. In the bottom view of FIG. 14 b, electricalplug 30 must maintain same order and positioning of bottom electriccontact points 304 relative to top electric contact points 302. Internalelectronics 501, however, are the same chip (e.g., piece of silicon)both top and bottom. Therefore, bottom internal electric contacts 504must be crossed to match bottom electric contact points 304. By reducingthe number of parts needed to assemble peripheral device 50, lowermanufacturing costs are achieved.

Although embodiments of the present invention and their advantages havebeen described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.For example, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the artthat many of the features, functions, processes, and materials describedherein may be varied while remaining within the scope of the presentinvention. Moreover, the scope of the present application is notintended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process,machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and stepsdescribed in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art willreadily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention,processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, thatperform substantially the same function or achieve substantially thesame result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may beutilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appendedclaims are intended to include within their scope such processes,machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

1. An electrical connector comprising: a tongue having first and secondflat sides bounded by opposing edges; a first set of one or moreelectrical contacts located on the first side of the tongue; a secondset of one or more electrical contacts located on the second side of thetongue, each of said second set of electrical contacts beingelectrically connected with a respective one of the first set ofelectrical contacts and being positioned electrically and physically inreverse symmetry with the first set of contacts; whereby the electricalconnector will electrically and physically mate to a correspondingreceptacle when inserted into the receptacle, irrespective of whetherthe first or second side is oriented to mate with a set of contacts ofthe receptacle, and protectors extending outward from each of the firstand second sides of the tongue along the opposite edges of the tongueand terminating a distance beyond the electrical contacts carried by thefirst and second sides, whereby the electrical contacts are preventedfrom physically contacting a housing of the corresponding receptacle. 2.The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the first and second set ofelectrical contacts are configured for conducting data signals andground and supply voltages which comply with a universal serial bus(USB) standard.
 3. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein theelectrical connector mates with a USB standard “A type” compliantreceptacle.
 4. A connector for connecting to a receptacle which complieswith a USB standard interface, comprising: an extension member carryingelectrical contacts comprising a first set of electrical contacts on oneside and a second set of electrical contacts on an opposite side, thefirst set of electrical contacts each carrying a respective one of datasignals and voltages required for interfacing with a USB standard “Atype” compliant receptacle, each of the second set of electricalcontacts being electrically connected with a respective one of the firstset of electrical contacts and being positioned in a manner to cause thesecond set of contacts to have a reverse electrical and physicalsymmetry with respect to the first set of electrical contacts, therebyto electrically and physically mate with contacts of the receptacleirrespective of whether the first or second set of contacts is orientedto mate with a set of contacts of the receptacle, and protectorsextending outward from each of the sides of the tongue along edges ofthe tongue between which the contacts are positioned, the protectorsterminating a distance beyond the electrical contacts carried by thesides, whereby the electrical contacts are protected.
 5. A connector forconnecting to a receptacle which complies with a USB standard interface,comprising: an extension member carrying electrical contacts comprisinga first set of electrical contacts on one side and a second set ofelectrical contacts on an opposite side, the first set of electricalcontacts each carrying a respective one of data signals and voltagesrequired for interfacing with a USB standard “A type” compliantreceptacle, each of the second set of electrical contacts beingassociated with a respective one of the first set of electrical contactsand being positioned in reverse symmetry with respect to the first setof electrical contacts, wherein the first set of electrical contacts isplaced in an order starting from one edge of the connector of a groundvoltage, a first signal A, a second signal B, and a positive supplyvoltage; and the second set of electrical contacts is placed in areverse order starting from said one edge of the connector of thepositive supply voltage, the second signal B, the first signal A, andthe ground voltage; whereby the signals on a top surface of theconnector are always in a particular order regardless of which side ofthe connector is oriented upwards; and protectors extending outward fromeach of the sides of the tongue along said one edge and another edge ofthe tongue between which the contacts are positioned, the outward extentof the protectors terminating a distance beyond the electrical contactscarried by the sides, whereby the electrical contacts are protected. 6.A dual-sided electrical connector for coupling to a USB compliantreceptacle, comprising: support means including first and second sidessupporting electrical contacts means for carrying signals and havingedges; first electrical contact means for carrying a first set ofsignals disposed on the first side of the support means conducting thedata signals and voltages required to interface with a USB standardcompliant receptacle; second electrical contact means disposed on thesecond side of said support means and being electrically connected withsaid first contact means in a manner that the second contact means havea reverse electrical and physical symmetry from said first contact meansbetween the edges of the support means; whereby the electrical connectorwill electrically mate to a USB standard compliant receptacleirrespective of whether the electrical connector is initially orientedin a first possible alignment or a second possible alignment withrespect to the USB receptacle; and protectors extending outward fromeach of the first and second sides of the support means along edgesthereof and terminating a distance beyond the electrical contact meanscarried by the first and second sides, whereby the electrical contactmeans are protected.
 7. A dual-sided electrical connector for couplingto a USB compliant receptacle comprising: support means including firstand second sides supporting electrical contacts means for carryingsignals and having edges; first electrical contact means for carrying afirst set of signals disposed on the first side of the support meansconducting the data signals and voltages required to interface with aUSB standard compliant receptacle; and second electrical contact meansdisposed on the second side of said support means and being associatedwith said first contact means, said second contact means beingpositioned in reverse symmetry from said first contact means acrossrespective second and first sides; whereby the electrical connector willelectrically mate to a USB standard compliant receptacle irrespective ofwhether the electrical connector is initially oriented in a firstpossible alignment or a second possible alignment with respect to theUSB receptacle, and wherein the first contact means comprises a firstset of signals contacts placed in an order starting from one side of thedual-sided electrical connector of a ground voltage, a first signal A, asecond signal B, and a positive supply voltage; and the second contactmeans comprises a second set of electrical contacts placed in a reverseorder starting from the one side of the dual-sided electrical connectorof the positive supply voltage, the second signal B, the first signal A,and the ground voltage; whereby the signals on top surface of thedual-sided electrical connector are always in a particular orderregardless of which side of the connector is oriented upwards; andprotectors extending outward from each of the first and second sides ofthe support means along the edges thereof and terminating a distancebeyond the electrical contact means carried by the first and secondsides, whereby the electrical contact means are protected.
 8. Anelectrical connector adapted for insertion into a receptacle having aset of contacts positioned across a surface thereof, comprising: atongue having first and second surfaces on opposite sides thereof; afirst set of a plurality of electrical contacts located on the firstsurface of the tongue, extending along its length and being spaced apartacross its width; a second set of a plurality of electrical contactslocated on a second surface of the tongue, extending along its lengthand being spaced apart across its width; wherein each of said second setof electrical contacts is electrically connected with a respective oneof the first set of electrical contacts in a manner to provide the firstand second sets of contacts with a reverse electrical symmetry acrosstheir widths; whereby either of the first or second set of theelectrical connector contacts are capable of mating with the receptaclecontacts when inserted into the receptacle; and protectors extendingoutward from each of the first and second sides of the tongue alonglengths of edges thereof spaced apart across the width of the tongue,the protectors terminating a distance beyond the electrical contactscarried by the first and second sides, whereby the electrical contactsare protected.
 9. The electrical connector of claim 8, wherein the firstand second sets of electrical contacts are configured for conductingdata signals and supply voltages which comply with a universal serialbus (USB) standard.
 10. An electrical connector adapted for insertioninto a receptacle having a set of at least four contacts positionedacross a width of a surface thereof in a given pattern, comprising: atongue having first and second surfaces on opposite sides thereof; andfirst and second edges defining a width thereof, a first plurality of atleast first, second, third and fourth electrical contacts in said givenpattern that are spaced apart across the width of the first surface ofthe tongue in a direction from the first edge to the second edge, asecond plurality of at least first, second, third and fourth electricalcontacts in said given pattern that are spaced apart across the width ofthe second surface of the tongue in a direction from the second edge tothe first edge, the first electrical contact on the first tongue surfacebeing electrically connected with the first electrical contact on thesecond tongue surface, the second electrical contact on the first tonguesurface being electrically connected with the second electrical contacton the second tongue surface, the third electrical contact on the firsttongue surface being electrically connected with the third electricalcontact on the second tongue surface, and the fourth electrical contacton the first tongue surface being electrically connected with the fourthelectrical contact on the second tongue surface, and protectorsextending outward from each of the first and second surfaces of thetongue and terminating a distance beyond the electrical contacts carriedby the first and second surfaces, whereby the electrical contacts areprotected.
 11. The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein the firstand second plurality of electrical contacts are configured forconducting data signals and supply voltages which comply with auniversal serial bus (USB) standard.
 12. The electrical connector ofclaim 10, wherein the protectors extend outward from each of the firstand second surfaces along the first and second edges of the tongue.